Pep Guardiola said reaching the FA Cup final doesn’t come close to making up for Manchester City’s poor season. City beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Wembley on Sunday to set up a final against Crystal Palace next month. But after failing short in the Premier League, Guardiola insists securing Champions League qualification and winning the FA Cup won’t make him view the campaign as anything other than a disappointment. Asked…
JUST OFF THE corner of 24th and Mission streets in San Francisco sits a distinctive piece of domestic American soccer’s past and present. The past perches inconspicuously over El Farolito’s bar, where the 1993 U.S. Open Cup trophy sits tucked among an array of championship hardware. The present lies on the sign announcing the taqueria’s name to prospective customers walking down Mission Street — which also serves as a billboard…
WREXHAM, Wales — Wrexham are one step away from the Premier League. The club with the Hollywood owners is now writing a script way beyond the most extraordinary plots in Tinseltown, but after achieving a historic third successive promotion, they are potentially one year away from joining Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal in football’s most glamorous league. When Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham for just £2 million in…
Marc-André ter Stegen has been included in Barcelona’s squad for the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid after recovering from a knee injury ahead of schedule. Ter Stegen, 32, ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee in a LaLiga game in September and was expected to miss the remainder of the season. However, the Germany goalkeeper returned to training in March and has now been given the all…
Raphinha is struggling to agree a new contract with Barcelona as Saudi Pro League clubs watch on, while Manchester United are keen on signing Atalanta midfielder Éderson. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe. Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men’s January grades | Women’s January grades – Sources: Brazil in talks again with Ancelotti’s camp – Source: Bayern’s Müller rejects Cincinnati offer…
Football Australia is set for a legal showdown with Macarthur FC amid claims soccer’s governing body misled club owners when they applied for entry into the A-League. Documents filed in the Federal Court claim FA breached consumer law and adopted unfair tactics when expanding Australia’s top-flight competition to 12 teams. A southwestern Sydney team was originally slated to enter the A-League for the 2019-20 season alongside a club from Melbourne’s…
Carlo Ancelotti is once again the front-runner for Brazil’s vacant coaching job, sources told ESPN Brasil. Brazil’s Football Confederation (CBF) fired coach Dorival Júnior last month and had considered Al Hilal manager Jorge Jesus as a potential replacement. Ancelotti, whose contract with Real Madrid runs until June 2026, has been CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues’ preferred choice to lead Brazil ever since Tite stepped down after the 2022 World Cup. Although…
Marcus Rashford is targeting a club playing in the Champions League for his next move, a source has told ESPN. The forward, on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, is set to delay a decision on his future until after the end of the season. Villa have an agreement with United to make his loan move permanent for a £40 million ($53m) fee, although a source has told ESPN…
Former United States men’s national team coach Bruce Arena has criticized the appointment of current head coach Mauricio Pochettino, saying that a non-American lacks the necessary understanding of the country’s culture. Argentine coach Pochettino was appointed last August with the task of leading the USMNT into the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He is far from the first non-American coach of…
Marcus Rashford will be back in Manchester on Tuesday night when Aston Villa face Manchester City in the race for Champions League qualification. However, it remains to be seen if the England international returns permanently in the summer. The 27-year-old has impressed at Villa since joining on loan from Manchester United in January. He has nine goal contributions in 16 appearances for the club, with his performances ousting Ollie Watkins…